The UE Lady Warriors will be getting a boost from Kurashiki Ablaze assistant coach Shota Sato and 2023 PVL Invitational Conference Best Outside Spiker Asaka Tamaru
The University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors may have temporarily lost their head coach for the rest of UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball, but they got two valuable additions in return.
The Strong Group Athletics, the company backing UE, announced the Lady Warriors will have Kurashiki Ablaze assistant coach Shota Sato and 2023 PVL Invitational Conference Best Outside Spiker Asaka Tamaru as part of their coaching staff.
Sato will serve as head consultant, while Tamaru will become assistant coach.
"We're thrilled to welcome Head Consultant Shota Sato and Assistant Coach Asaka Tamaru to UE. Witnessing their prowess in the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference has us eager to absorb their knowledge," Lady Warriors team manager Jared Lao said in a statement.
"With Coach Jerry temporarily away, they take the reins, and the players are excited. As the saying goes, 'It ain't over 'til it's over,' and under their leadership, we're ready for the journey ahead."
The Lady Warriors coaching staff also includes Obet Vital, Stephanie Cholico, Allan Mendoza, Ludio Dulce, Gregory Ericta, John Paul Martires, and Jelai Gajero.
The Lady Warriors are 1-4 in the standings.
Recall that coach Jerry Yee was suspended by the UAAP due to a complaint regarding "conduct not aligned with the UAAP's principles of camaraderie and fair play."
Yee claimed there was no due process, and UE is requesting for an appeal.
[ALSO READ: Timeline of events leading to Jerry Yee’s temporary suspension for UAAP Season 86]
Last year, Yee served as the coach for the Adamson Lady Falcons in the UAAP and the tactician of the Farm Fresh Foxies in the PVL.
Adamson and its sponsor Akari terminated Yee's contract and issued a statement of release, pushing the coach to sign up with UE.
Meanwhile, the Farm Fresh Foxies--powered by the Strong Group Athletics--tapped Kurashiki Ablaze head coach Hideo Suzuki as its team consultant during the offseason.
This led to the intense Japanese training with their assistant coach Shimizu Mikihiro.
[ALSO READ: Ganbatte! PVL teams are embracing the Japanese system and why it's a good thing]
Sato and Tamaru have arrived in the Philippines last Thursday and are expected to make their coaching debuts on Sunday, March 10, against the National University Lady Bulldogs at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The game will be aired on One Sports, One Sports+, and the Pilipinas Live app.